FORMER Defence Secretary John Reid today warns that Scottish shipyards will definitely not build UK warships if voters choose independence next year.

Lord Reid insists no more Royal Navy vessels will be built in Scotland if voters back split [PA]

Writing exclusively for the Scottish Sunday Express, the Labour peer affirms: "This is not a matter of political opinion, it is a matter of fact."

His comments follow a turbulent week which saw BAE Systems announce that 1,775 UK shipbuilding jobs will be cut.

Its Portsmouth site will cease building vessels altogether, with future contracts being awarded to its Govan and Scotstoun yards, including the new generation Type-26 frigates. However, this could be reversed if Scots vote Yes.

On Friday, Nicola Sturgeon described the warnings as "scaremongering" and insisted Glasgow was the "best and only" place to build the ships. But today, Lord Reid writes: "We don't build warships abroad now, and what's left of the UK would not do so if Scotland separated.

"The Nationalists either have no real understanding of our defence industry or else they are deliberately misleading the people of Scotland."

BAE Systems said seven centuries of shipbuilding will end at Portsmouth "in the second half of next year", with the loss of 940 jobs. A further 835 are to be axed at Govan, Scotstoun and Rosyth by 2016.

The Deputy First Minister and Finance Secretary John Swinney met workers at the Scotstoun yard on Friday and were accused of "playing politics" with jobs.

Speaking after her visit, Ms Sturgeon - who had previously declared it "preposterous" to say the Type 26 frigates would not be built in a separate Scotland - appeared to soften her stance.

She said: "If Scotland becomes independent, it will be for Scottish governments to support our shipyards through our own naval procurement, support for exports and, where it is appropriate, diversification away from military contracts."

Last night, Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael said: "Nicola Sturgeon is looking pretty isolated. The best thing she could do is admit that she is wrong."

Lib Dem Willie Rennie added: "The Nationalists have failed to set out a credible explanation for why the MoD would place contracts for a sovereign capability in a foreign country."